The engineering and technology workforce
New workforce data reveals there are 6.4m people employed in engineering and technology roles in the UK, that’s around a fifth of the total UK workforce at just over 19%. But, there is still more to done before we have the diverse workforce we need for UK engineering and technology to thrive.
Women remain the most underrepresented group. Only 16.9% of the workforce are women, compared to 56% of other occupations. This has grown from 10% in 2010, but progress is slow. UK minority ethnic groups are also underrepresented, making up 14% of the workforce, compared to 18% of other occupations. Disabled people make up 14% of the engineering and technology workforce, lower than the 19% across all other occupations. The sector needs to do more to recruit and retain women and those from other underrepresented groups.
EngineeringUK research shows that introducing young people to what a career in engineering and technology could mean for them ignites a passion for STEM among young people from all backgrounds. STEM outreach programmes like The Big Bang, Energy Quest and Climate School Programme help bring to life real-world engineering and tech careers for young people.
EngineeringUK has partnered with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Women’s Engineering Society (WES), BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, and Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) to address the underrepresentation of women. Through this gender pathways work, together we will drive a collective mission to increase the number of girls in education pathways to engineering and technology at 18. Together we will focus on key areas influencing girls and young women’s engineering and technology career choices.
“The latest data shows that there is still more to be done before we have the diverse workforce we need for UK engineering and technology to thrive. Women remain the most underrepresented group. Back in 2010, women made up around 10% of the workforce, so 16.9% is certainly an increase, but over 15 years, this is slow progress for a sector growing faster than any other between now and 2030."
— Becca Gooch, Head of Research, EngineeringUK
